Head of Operations

at  University of Warwick

Location
University of Warwick Campus, Coventry
Department
Innovation
Position Type
Permanent
Salary
£46,485 to £55,295 per annum
About the Role
For informal enquiries, please contact David Plumb (Chief Innovation Officer) at David.plumb@warwick.ac.uk.
The innovation Group occupy dedicated space at the heart of the University campus. Programmes attracting up to 10,000 innovators through events and activities are hosted in this space and others across Coventry and Warwickshire. This role is pivotal in leading the planning, support and delivery of events, programmes and engagement in addition to providing a senior operational and administrative management service for the group.
This role combines a focus on effective operational delivery with the requirement to think strategically and identify key areas for growth and development. You will ensure that the innovation group can operate efficiently and provide an excellent internal service to our multiple delivery teams, working with business partners across the University (The role is key as the finance, HR and other professional services liaison and operational point). This will include responsibility for the innovation group’s on and offline spaces, including the My Innovation Collective knowledge exchange website.
As a relatively new department of the University, systems and processes are still developing and this role offers the opportunity to be part of a team who shape how we work. Programmes, activities and events will be initiated by Warwick Enterprise, Warwick Innovations, Warwick Innovation District, West Midlands Health and Wellbeing Innovation Network, Deep Tech Innovation Centre, Creative Futures and other Innovation Partners (external) and incubators.
We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.
About You
Working with the Chief Innovation Officer and the Senior Leadership team, you will undertake a lead role in the operations and professional management support for the department. An experienced senior administrator, you will demonstrate your organisation and project management skills in a complex operation. Part of the team delivering University Innovation and the strategic plan across all relevant areas of activity, you will need to demonstrate the ability to identify, analyse and resolve complex organisational problems. Ideally with an interest or background in innovation, SME or incubators, you will have ‘whole job’ experience and be able to work effectively on the ground as well as at a senior level.
You will develop and implement long-term financial strategies and contribute to the planning of budgets, forecasting and financial reporting, so will need experience of financial planning and budget management. Acting as Departmental Administrator, you will lead on procurement and finance for the operations team, and oversee the portfolio of grants and income through regular monitoring and reporting.
Representing the Department at a senior level, both within the University and externally, you will ensure that our communications are effective and aligned with both the Department’s and the University’s strategic objectives. Ideally with experience in a professional specialism such as marketing, comms or finance, you will be a confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills. You will oversee the department’s marketing function, ensuring liaison with the University’s central marketing and communications teams and oversee reporting to individual and senior leadership teams within innovation group.
You will take departmental responsibility for compliance in areas such as Financial Regulations, GDPR, human resources and health and safety, ensuring that systems and processes are up to date and in line with University guidelines and procedures.
With experience of direct line management, you will lead the operations team, championing customer service and embedding a positive working culture that is aligned with the University’s values and behaviours and that enables all staff to reach their full potential.
About the Department
Warwick Innovation District is a large, open innovation ecosystem that stretches from the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire, through Leamington to Wellesbourne. We bring together academics, businesses, founders, and investors, to start, scale and pivot businesses, while helping students gain the opportunity to experiment with creative and critical thinking. Our passion is to see our region prosper.
We operate a wide variety of activities within Warwick Innovation District, from formal programmes and routes to funding, to networking events, workshops and an online knowledge exchange. The Operations team provides support to our colleagues and programme members; we are a can-do team who are involved in exciting and varied projects, which often require innovative solutions and a proactive approach. This is an exciting time to join us – we are growing thanks to successful funding bids and a drive for innovation across the University and the region, and we have ambitions for more over the coming months and years.
About the University
Born in the 60s with a mindset of boldness, imagination and collaboration, the University of Warwick is a world-leading research-intensive university with the highest academic and research standards. We’re one of the world’s top universities, ranked 67th in the world and 10th in the UK, with 92% of our research assessed to be ‘world leading or internationally excellent’*.

You’ll be joining a diverse, innovative and globally connected community committed to igniting real world progress. Here at Warwick, we offer you opportunities to follow your ambitions as long as you bring the energy and determination to succeed.

• QS World University Rankings 2024

** Research Excellence Framework 2021
How to Apply

Please refer the Job description for details